Liftoff

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Liftoff is a fortnightly podcast about space, the universe, and everything. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand the latest developments as explained by enthusiastic space fans Stephen Hackett and Jason Snell. Hosted by Jason Snell a...Show More

The guys talk through a few stories that didn't make Episode 95, including what's going on with Boeing's Starliner and Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser, as well as Bennu's habit of spewing material into space.

In March 1969, Jim McDivitt, Dave Scott and Rusty Schweickart were the first astronauts to fly the Lunar Module, proving that this vital spacecraft was ready to take a crew to the moon — and help bring them home.

This week, Stephen and Jason are joined by space and technology reporter Swapna Krishna to catch up on a whole bunch of news, including the James Webb Telescope's latest schedule slip, SpaceX's recent tangling with NOAA, and more. Also, new Liftoff m...Show More

SpaceX is returning to Launch Complex 40 and the GRACE mission is coming to an end while Dawn has a new lease on life. Then, discussion of the Gemini capsule and the two uncrewed launches of the program.

Stephen and Jason are back to discuss the end of Cassini and Jim Bridenstine, who appears to be Trump's pick for NASA Administrator. After that, they journey into orbit with John Glenn and Scott Carpenter.

Jason and Stephen are joined by Dr. Katie Mack, a theoretical astrophysicist working at the University of Melbourne on dark matter and the potential it has to change our understanding of the universe, physics and more.

This fortnight we discuss Cassini's daring death dives inside Saturn's rings before the end of its mission, exciting news from our solar system's ocean moons and hints of a change in planning for future exploration of Mars.

This fortnight, Stephen went out for a nerdy evening, NASA announced the seven planets at TRAPPIST-1 and SpaceX is going to the moon. After the news, Jason and Stephen break down the Ice Giants of Uranus and Neptune.

Jason and Stephen catch up some news, talk about some weird ways stars end and are then joined by Loren Grush, science reporter at The Verge to talk about commercial crew, inflatable space hotels and more.

Jason and Stephen talk about the not-so-impending doom facing Phobos and a bunch of other news before being joined by Emily Lakdawalla from The Planetary Society to discuss the future of solar system exploration.

Jason and Stephen catch up on some of the latest space news, including classic NASA design specs, the new Boeing Starliner, a year-long mission to the International Space Station, and new pictures from Pluto.